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Public Safety

Police agencies from around New Jersey are gearing up for the state’s largest annual drunk driving crackdown. The 2017 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Statewide Labor Day Crackdown begins August 18 and concludes on September 4. During the campaign, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols targeting motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement backed up by educational activities including national radio and television advertisements, posters, banners and mobile video display signs. The campaign looks to curtail impaired driving during the busy summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.

“Despite years of enforcement and public awareness efforts, too many people still make the unfortunate decision to get behind the wheel while impaired. Nearly 30% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey are alcohol related,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “This is a zero tolerance campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired they will be arrested,” he added.

As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local police agencies throughout the state to run the two-week campaign. During last year’s crackdown, participating agencies made 1,649 DWI arrests.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2017 crackdown offer the following advice:

If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.

Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

Spend the night where the activity is held.

Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.

Mayor Zimmer, Chief Ferrante, Business Administrator Marks and the ESU Team and vehicles

This week the Hoboken Police Department received delivery of an Emergency Response Truck for the department’s first-ever Emergency Services Unit (ESU) which launched on January 1st, 2017. The vehicle and specialized equipment, which cost nearly $190,000, was purchased at no cost to Hoboken taxpayers using the Local Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

“The City of Hoboken is safer today thanks to the highly-trained and specially-equipped elite Emergency Services Unit which is prepared to handle every type of situation,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I thank and congratulate Chief Ferrante and all members of the Hoboken Police Department on this tremendous accomplishment and for their work every day to keep our residents and visitors safe.”

The ESU Team is comprised of 11 tactical officers with extensive specialized training including active shooter response, rescue drills, firearms training, SWAT, and emergency medical responder school, as well as two crisis negotiators. All the training has been performed to national standards.

“While this unit is trained to handle worst-case scenarios, they are on patrol every day responding to every type of emergency call including motor vehicle crashes with injuries, medical calls, burglaries, robberies, fights, emotionally disturbed persons, rescue calls, weapons calls, and dangerous animal calls, just to name a few,” said Police Chief Ken Ferrante. “If the unfortunate event ever occurs involving an active shooter, barricaded suspect, or a terrorism incident, this unit has been trained and is ready to handle all kinds of scenarios.”

“In addition to the tactical officers, we have also trained a Lieutenant and a Sergeant in crisis negotiations so that we can diffuse high-risk situations before having to possibly use force, which is always the last case option,” added Chief Ferrante.

“There are so many people to thank who played a role in making this team come together including Mayor Zimmer, Business Administrator Marks, the City Council, my three Captains, Charles Campbell, Dan Lobue and Tory Pasculli, Lt. John Miskulin who helped with identifying funding, Lt. Corrado Allegretta, Det. Anthony Caruso, Det. Alex Gonzalez, and Det. Charles Kucz, retired Officers Robert Truppner and Walter Wehrhahn, and Union City Police Chief Rich Molinari and their ESU Commander Capt. Brian Wolpert,” added Chief Ferrante.

The Hoboken Police Department invites the community to the fifth “coffee with a cop” meeting on Monday, February 6th from 8:30am to 10:00am at Black Rail Coffee, located at 9th Street and Jackson Street.

Coffee with a Cop brings police officers and the community members they serve together – over coffee – to discuss issues, learn more about each other, and strengthen community ties.

The Hoboken Police Department is engaged in a comprehensive pedestrian safety education and enforcement initiative throughout November that will include motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

The highlight of the initiative is a series of pedestrian decoy operations which are taking place at multiple locations in Hoboken throughout the month. Decoy operations involve police officers in civilian clothes who pose as pedestrians crossing the street while a team of other officers observe and stop motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians or violate other laws.

During pedestrian decoy operations in the past two weeks, police issued 41 summons for failure to stop for pedestrians, 3 summons for driving while on a mobile phone, 1 summons for disregarding a crossing guard/traffic control officer, and 9 warnings. Additional decoy operations are also scheduled.

Officers will also stop motorists who fail to stop at stop signs and will be on the lookout for other dangerous violations such as distracted driving. Enforcement and education efforts will also focus on pedestrians who fail to use a crosswalk and bicyclists who fail to stop at red lights, ride recklessly on sidewalks, and other violations. Officers will also enforce violations against those who fail to obey crossing guards and traffic control officers.

The Hoboken Police Department has received a $16,000 grant from the N.J. Division of Highway Traffic Safety aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety in Hoboken.

The grant will fund the 2017 Pedestrian Safety Program – Walk Safe Hoboken, a program aimed at reducing the number of traffic collisions involving pedestrians. The grant provides funding for traffic enforcement and educational material to be utilized during the police department’s school and community presentations.

The police department’s Traffic and Transportation Bureau has recognized the need for increased enforcement and awareness regarding pedestrian safety. “Walk Safe Hoboken” will begin this month and culminate in May 2017. The program will provide educational presentations to local schools and the enforcement of motor vehicle laws throughout the city. Officers will stop motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and in addition will be on the lookout for other dangerous violations such as distracted driving.

As pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility, pedestrians who fail to use a crosswalk when crossing the street also will be stopped as part of the program. Urging pedestrians and drivers alike to be aware of their surroundings can save lives.

Hoboken Police Officers will focus their enforcement efforts at commonly used crosswalks as well as school zones. For information regarding “Walk Safe Hoboken,” the public is advised to contact Lieutenant John Petrosino or Sergeant William Montanez of the Hoboken Police Department’s Traffic and Transportation Bureau at (201) 420-5109.

The Hoboken Police Department invites the community to the fourth “coffee with a cop” meeting on Wednesday, October 5th from 9:00am to 10:30am at La Isla Uptown, located at 25 12th Street at the corner of Maxwell Lane.

Coffee with a Cop brings police officers and the community members they serve together – over coffee – to discuss issues, learn more about each other, and strengthen community ties.

During the summer months, there has been an increase in bicycle thefts throughout different areas of Hoboken. The Hoboken Police Department offers the following tips to protect your bike:

• ALWAYS LOCK UNATTENDED BICYCLES. Lightweight cable or chain locks do not provide adequate security in most areas. Use a heavy duty U type lock. Do not protect a $1000 mode of transportation with a $10 lock.
• For the greatest theft deterrence, use two locks such as a U-lock and a locking cable. The longer it takes a thief to get through your bike security, the less likely your bike will be stolen.
• Lock to a fixed, immovable object like a permanent bike rack. Be careful not to lock to items that can be easily cut, broken or removed. Be careful that your bike cannot be lifted over the top of the object to which it is locked.
• Properly secure bicycles in garages or storage units.
• Remove or secure any bicycle components and accessories that can easily be taken.
• Observe individuals loitering near parked bicycles, even if the bikes are locked. Call the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100 to report suspicious activity and provide a good suspect description.

A thief with the proper tools can steal a bicycle in under a minute. Bicycles have been taken from bike racks and outside residences, while secured to gates. To help combat these thefts, the Hoboken Police Department urges residents to keep bicycles inside their homes whenever possible and not outside the gates or inside their garages unsecured. When a bicycle needs to be locked outdoors, always use a lock and chain of the highest quality and lock the bicycle in a well-lit place with high foot traffic.

Anyone who observes individuals loitering near parked bicycles is asked to call the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100 to report any suspicious activity and provide a good description of the suspect.

The Hoboken Police Department uses the National Bike Registry to help bicycle owners recover their bicycles in case of theft. Bicycle owners can visit the Police Department to complete a bicycle registration forms which will be kept on file. Bicycle owners should bring their bicycle serial number(s), descriptive information (frame size, color, make, etc.) and purchase receipt (if available) to complete the registration.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2016, The Hoboken Police Department and Stevens Police Department will be hosting “National Night Out in Hoboken”. National Night Out, also known as “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, is an annual, nationwide event that allows the community workers to give back to their community. The annual event will take place in Hoboken’s centrally located Church Square Park, where a large slate of family and youth-oriented activities is scheduled to take place from 5pm until 9pm. Elsa from “Frozen” and Cinderella will be making a visit to take pictures with everyone in attendance. We will have bounce houses, free food and giveaways throughout the night. Our giveaways include baseball tickets, a Burberry handbag, gift cards and autographed sports memorabilia. We will be conducting free child car seat inspections from inside the parking lot of the A J Demarest School (158 4th Street).

National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

In addition to the participation of various police agencies, several local businesses will be out in full support of this night out against crime. Additionally, there will also be bounce houses and water slides and other entertainment for children. People of all ages are encouraged to attend.

The National Night Out event is celebrated by over 37 million participants and over 16,000 communities across the United States.

For further information or to set up a table or make a donation for the event please contact Officer Daniel Simone at simoneda@hobokenpd.org or visit our website, www.Hobokenpd.com.

The HPD and SPD hope you can come out and help us fight against crime!